Ford Green Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ford Green Hall
Ford Green Hall
Location	Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
OS grid reference	SJ 8873 5086
Built	1624
Governing body	Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated	2 October 1951
Reference no.	1220313
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Ford Green Hall is a very old farmhouse and museum in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. It's a special building because it's a Grade II* listed building. This means it's very important and protected.

The oldest parts of the house were built in the late 1500s. Another part was added or fixed up in the early 1700s. In the garden, there's also an old dovecote from the 1700s. This dovecote is also a listed building, just like the main house.

Ford Green Hall is in the east of Smallthorne. It used to be on a big farm with 36 acres of land. But over time, the land around it has become smaller. Now, houses and a nature reserve surround the hall.

Sometimes, people get Ford Green Hall mixed up with another old house called Ford Green House. Ford Green House is also in Smallthorne and is the city's oldest home. But remember, they are two different places!

Discovering Ford Green Hall's Past

Ford Green Hall was likely built in 1624 for a local farmer named Hugh Ford. His family, the Fords, lived there for about 200 years. In the 1600s, a new part made of bricks was added to the house. It probably replaced or fixed an older section.

By the 1800s, the Ford family had moved away. The house was then rented out to different people. At one point, it was even split into three separate homes! During this time, the special timber (wood) frame on the outside was covered with white plaster.

Ford Green Hall as a Museum

The city council of Stoke-on-Trent bought the property in 1946. After being carefully repaired, it opened as a museum in 1952. Today, Ford Green Hall looks like a farmer's house from the 1600s.

The museum has many original items from that time. You can see old fabrics, pottery, and furniture. Some items are also careful copies of what would have been there. The museum's collection is considered "Designated Outstanding" by the Arts Council England. This means it's recognized as being very important, even worldwide!

There's a café at the hall where you can get a snack. The hall can also host weddings, which is pretty cool!

In 2011, the city council had to cut back on its spending. This meant the museum was at risk of closing. But in 2014, a group of local volunteers stepped in. They formed a charitable organisation called Ford Green Hall Ltd. Now, they manage the museum and keep it open for everyone to enjoy.

In recent years, the timber frame of the building needed more repairs. For a while, the building was on the "Heritage at Risk Register". This list helps keep an eye on important buildings that need special care.

Exploring the Architecture of Ford Green Hall

Outside the Hall

The house is a mix of old styles. It has timber framing from the 1500s and brickwork from the 1700s. The right side of the house, built in the early 1500s, has a cool black-and-white timber frame. It's decorated with diamond shapes and fancy railings.

This older part has windows with two or three sections, called mullioned windows. There's also a two-story entrance porch with a pointed roof. Above the inner door of the porch, you can see an old message carved into a beam: "Ralph Sutton, Carpenter".

The left side of the house is made of brick. It was probably built in the early 1700s. This part might have replaced an older structure or was a big update to an existing building. A special part of the rainwater system might even show the date 1734.

Inside the Hall

The doors inside the house have special pointed archways. These are called Gothic or ogival arches. They are decorated with a design called a fleur-de-lys, which looks like a lily.

The main staircase is very old. It's thought to be either original to the house or an early replacement from the 1600s. It has decorative balusters (the upright posts) and newel posts (the main posts at the top and bottom) with acorn-shaped tops.

The Dovecote

Ford Green Hall also has an old brick dovecote from the early 1700s. A small brick wall connects the dovecote to the main house. It's a square building with a plain tiled roof. This dovecote is also part of the building's special Grade II* listed status.